With world governing body FIFA last year imposing a ban on the Iraq Football Association (IFA) because of outside interference in its affairs, the AFC was hoping the issue would have been resolved by early January, 2010 in order to allow Iraqi clubs to compete in the AFC Cup 2010 competition.

However, FIFA’s suspension remains and AFC is forced to disqualify Iraqi teams Arbil and Al Najaf from the 2010 event.

“It is with deep regret that Iraqi clubs cannot participate in the AFC Cup 2010,” said AFC President Mohamed Bin Hammam.

“We, however, gave our best efforts in supporting the Iraq FA in trying to ensure that their teams played in the competition.”

The AFC had initially set a January 3, 2010 deadline for the IFA to settle its affairs. The deadline was then extended by three days until January 6.

However, there has yet to be any firm progress. FIFA suspended the IFA late last year after its headquarters were seized by the Iraq Olympic Committee.

FIFA and AFC statutes dictate that only the National Football Associations are recognised as the true guardians of the game within their jurisdiction.

The loss of Arbil and Al Najaf means there be no play-off between Qatar’s Al Rayyan and Uzbek team Nasaf for a place in the group stages of the 2010 AFC Cup.

Instead, both teams will play in the group stages. Al Rayyan will play in Group E while Nasaf will compete in Group C.

The tournament will also be reduced to 31 teams with Group B housing only three teams compared with four in the other groups.